1In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: 2Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. 3For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. 4They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. 5But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.
6For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time for my departure is near. 7I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.
Personal Remarks
9Do your best to come to me quickly, 10for Demas, because he loved this world, has deserted me and has gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, and Titus to Dalmatia. 11Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, because he is helpful to me in my ministry. 12I sent Tychicus to Ephesus. 13When you come, bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas, and my scrolls, especially the parchments.
14Alexander the metalworker did me a great deal of harm. The Lord will repay him for what he has done. 15You too should be on your guard against him, because he strongly opposed our message.
16At my first defense, no one came to my support, but everyone deserted me. May it not be held against them. 17But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. And I was delivered from the lion’s mouth. 18The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
Final Greetings
19Greet Priscilla4:19 Greek Prisca, a variant of Priscilla and Aquila and the household of Onesiphorus. 20Erastus stayed in Corinth, and I left Trophimus sick in Miletus. 21Do your best to get here before winter. Eubulus greets you, and so do Pudens, Linus, Claudia and all the brothers and sisters.4:21 The Greek word for brothers and sisters (adelphoi) refers here to believers, both men and women, as part of God’s family.
22The Lord be with your spirit. Grace be with you all.
务要传道
1在上帝和审判活人死人的基督耶稣面前,我凭基督的显现和祂的国郑重嘱咐你: 2务要传道,无论时机好坏,都要准备好,以百般的忍耐和教导督责人、警戒人、勉励人。 3因为有一天,人们会厌倦纯正的教导,耳朵发痒,寻找许多迎合他们私欲的老师。 4他们掩耳不听真理,反而偏向无稽之谈。 5然而,你要谨慎行事,不怕吃苦,专心传道,尽忠职守。
6我的生命如同奉献在祭坛上的酒正倾倒出来,我离世的日子快要到了。 7那美好的仗,我打过了;当跑的路,我跑完了;所信的道,我守住了。 8从此,有公义的冠冕为我预备,按公义审判的主会在祂来的那一天把它赐给我,不但会赐给我,也会赐给所有爱慕祂显现的人。
最后的嘱咐
9请你尽快到我这里来, 10因为底马贪爱世界,离弃我跑到帖撒罗尼迦去了。革勒士去了加拉太,提多去了挞马太, 11只剩下路加一人在我身边。你要把马可一起带来,因为他在传道的工作上对我很有帮助。 12至于推基古,我派他到以弗所去了。 13你来的时候,要把我在特罗亚时留给加布的外衣带来,也要带来那些书卷,特别是那些羊皮卷。
14铜匠亚历山大做了许多恶事害我,主必按他的所作所为报应他。 15你也要提防他,因为他极力反对我们所传的道。
16我第一次在法庭申辩的时候,没有人帮助我,众人都离弃了我,但愿他们不会因此而获罪。 17然而主站在我身旁加给我力量,使我可以把福音完整地传给所有的外族人。主把我从狮子口里救了出来。 18主必救我脱离一切邪恶的攻击,带我进入祂的天国。愿荣耀归给主,直到永永远远。阿们!
问候
19请代我问候百基拉和亚居拉,以及阿尼色弗一家。 20以拉都留在了哥林多,我把生病的特罗非摩留在了米利都。 21你要尽快在冬天之前赶到这里来。友布罗、布田、利奴、革劳底亚和众弟兄姊妹都问候你。
22愿主与你的灵同在!愿恩典与你们同在!